Configure iSCSI Virtual Drives

Before You Begin

iSCSI virtual drives are used primarily to run supported operating systems that reside on an external server that function as the Sun Server X4-2L host operating system.

iSCSI virtual drives must be configured in the iSCSI BIOS Setup Utility screens. You must set the iSCSI parameters on the selected port.

Before you begin:

• You should be familiar with iSCSI theory of operation for the selected OS.

• Refer to the OS documentation to verify that ISCSI targets can be mounted on a client.

• You will need access to an external iSCSI server running on any supported OS.

• The Sun Server X4-2L must be in UEFI BIOS Boot Mode, not Legacy BIOS Boot Mode.

  See Select Legacy BIOS or UEFI BIOS Boot Mode.

• You must provide the following information from the iSCSI target server. The following items are entered into the iSCSI BIOS Setup Utility screens:

1. Access the BIOS Setup Utility menus.

   See Access BIOS Setup Utility Menus.

2. In the BIOS Setup Utility menus, navigate to the UEFI Driver Control Menu.

   Options displayed include iSCSI booting and all controllable devices.

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   Note - The selection for iSCSI will always be an option in UEFI BIOS Boot Mode; however, other menu options might change depending on which cards are installed in the system.

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3. Select iSCSI, and then to press Enter.

   The iSCSI Initiator Name screen appears.

   
   
4. Select iSCSI Initiator Name, and then press Enter-.

   The iSCSI Initiator Name dialog box appears.

   
   
5. Type the desired iSCSI Qualified Name (IQN) into the iSCSI Initiator Name dialog box, and then press Enter to save the changes.

   The IQN identifies:

   The string “iqn”

   A date code that specifies the year and month in which the organization registered the domain or subdomain name used as the naming authority string

   The organizational naming authority string, which consists of a valid, reversed domain or subdomain name

   Optionally, a “:” (colon) followed by a string that the assigning organization can choose, which must make each assigned iSCSI name unique

   The iSCSI Initiator Name must conform to the IQN naming scheme (see RFC 3271 – Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) Naming and Discovery). For example: iqn.1988-2.com.oracle:000000000000

   The iSCSI Initiator Name appears in the UEFI Driver Control screen.

   
   
6. Select Add an Attempt, and then press Enter.

   The Add and Attempt screen appears.

   
   
7. Select the NIC port MAC address that corresponds to your chosen iSCSI boot target, and then press Enter.

   For example: Port 00-21-28-E7-71-06.

   The Port Configuration screen appears. iSCSI is disabled by default.

   
   
8. Select iSCSI Mode, then press the + or - key (plus or minus key) to toggle iSCSI Mode to Enabled to enable the iSCSI port for iSCSI boot.
9. Determine whether you want to set DHCP to enabled or disabled.

   DHCP is disabled by default.

   • If you keep DHCP disabled, continue to Step 10.

   • If you set DHCP to enabled, continue to Step 11.

10. If you elect to keep DHCP disabled, manually enter the following settings, and then press Enter to save your changes.
    1. Select Target Name, and then type the iqn target name.

       For example: iqn.1988-12.oracle.com:X4-2-target

    2. Select Target IP Address, and then type the target IP address of the iSCSI server in dotted-decimal notation.

       For example: 111.111.1.11

    3. Select the Target Port, and then type the target port of the iSCSI server.

       For example: 3260 (default target port setting)

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       Note - When iSCSI is enabled on a network port, PXE is disabled for the port.

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    4. Select the Boot LUN, and then type the hexadecimal representation of the logical unit number (LUN).

       For example: 0

    5. Continue to Step 12.
11. To set DHCP to enabled, do the following, and then press Enter to save your changes.
    1. Select Enable DHCP, and then press the + or - key (plus or minus key) to change the setting to Enabled.

       You do not need to enter the settings for the iSCSI Initiator and the related fields are hidden.

    2. Select the Get target info via DHCP setting, and toggle the setting to Enabled.

       The Target information is retrieved from the DHCP service and the related fields are hidden.

       The following screen shows DHCP and Get target info via DHCP set to Enabled.

    
    
12. Select a Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP) Type to enable password security.

    • None – If None is selected, the default setting, CHAP is disabled and not required.

    • One Way (also known as unidirectional) or Mutual – If One Way is selected, the CHAP Name and CHAP Secret are required.

      • CHAP Name – User configurable. Typically the name of the Initiator, but can be any name. Must also be set at the target to authenticate the Initiator.

      • CHAP Secret – User configurable password. Must be set on the target and the Initiator.

    • Mutual – If Mutual (also known as bidirectional) is selected, CHAP Name, CHAP Secret, Reverse CHAP Name, and Reverse CHAP Secret are required.

      • Reverse CHAP Name – Set a CHAP name for the target as a parameter of the target.

      • Reverse CHAP Secret – Set a password for the target.

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    Note - The target must be configured to acknowledge a CHAP and for the parameters to be used.

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13. Verify that your settings match the iSCSI target server information.
14. Press F10 to save the changes and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.

    See Exit BIOS Setup Utility.

15. Restart the server.
16. Press the F8 key (or Ctrl+P from a serial console) when prompted while the BIOS is running the power-on-self-test (POST) code checkpoint tests.

    The Please Select Boot device dialog box appears.

17. Verify that the iSCSI target appears in the boot list.

Related Information

• Access BIOS Setup Utility Menus

• Exit BIOS Setup Utility